Texas Court Halts Execution of Death Row Inmate Citing Evidence Concerns

David Leonard Wood’s execution was stayed just two days before its scheduled date as questions about DNA evidence and witness testimony intensify.

David Leonard Wood, convicted of the 1987 'Desert Killer' murders of six women and girls, has consistently maintained his innocence for over three decades.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a rare stay of execution, with no explanation, halting the lethal injection set for Thursday.
Wood's conviction heavily relied on circumstantial evidence and testimony from jailhouse informants, some of whom received benefits for their cooperation.
Defense attorneys argue that critical DNA evidence remains untested, with prior testing excluding Wood as a match for one key blood sample.
New testimony from a former inmate alleges police pressured informants to fabricate confessions, casting further doubt on the integrity of the original investigation.